By Linda Conner Lambeck

WESTPORT — The Board of Education said goodbye Thursday to 16 staff members who combined gave 377 years of service to Westport public schools.

This year’s crop of retirees included seven teachers, three custodians, two paraprofessionals and a security guard, administrative assistant, nurse and assistant principal.

“This group of retirees made an impact on countless students, colleagues and families,” said Assistant Supt. John Bayers during a program that included certificates, flowers and a reception.

Their impact, he added, will live long beyond their years in the district.

One of the retirees, Karen DeFelice-During, has spent her entire life at Westport schools, from student and star athlete at Staples High School, to an educator at her alma mater and, eventually, president of the Westport Education Association. She retires after a 38-year career.

“My roots will always be here in Westport,” DeFelice-During said. 

She described the district as top flight and supportive of its teaching staff. “Students have always been a driving force,” she said.

Her advice to colleagues: “If you think you can’t, think again.” Also, work hard, pack a sense of humor, learn from mistakes and don’t feel you have to all travel the same road.

Staples Principal Stafford Thomas said he has never worked with a union president like DeFelice-During, who not only worked for what was best for students and teachers, but trusted his thinking during the COVID pandemic.

Also retiring after 38 years is Mary Sue Welch, a first-grade teacher at Greens Farms Elementary School.

“I’m jealous I only got to work with her one year,” said freshman  Greens Farms Principal Brian Byrne.

“People ask about being first-grade teacher,” said Welch. “I love what I do.” It is both fulfilling and exhausting, she added, plus fun.

Barbara “Bobbie” Burns, is retiring as a teacher at Stepping Stones preschool after 29 years, but has actually spent 53 years in early childhood education, according to Stepping Stones Director Megan Clarke.

Clarke called Burns nothing short of legendary. “She turned every opportunity into a teachable moment,” Clarke said. “She gave the district 110 percent with heart, soul and dedication.”

Burns said Westport took a chance on her. “What a gift,” she said. “This is a challenging place to work. Expectations are high … It allowed me to be the absolute best teacher I could become.”

Ann Neary is retiring after eight years at Staples, but this is a second career. She once was a fashion marketer and then taught in the Bronx before coming to Westport.

Neary made the most of her tenure as a Staples language arts teacher, Thomas said, by helping to define and strengthen Pathways, the district’s alternative education program. She also worked on the district’s wellbeing committee, helping inject fun and spirit into the sometimes intense Staples school day. Neary became a national board-certified teacher in 2018.

She, too, praised the district as one where teachers are supported, allowing them develop leadership skills and helping students realize their own.

Pathways, she added, has helped 58 students graduate who otherwise might not have graduated.

Staples is also losing:

Catherine Carlson, a library paraprofessional in the district for 26 years. The first part of her career was spent at the middle-school level.

David DuBois, a  security guard for 18 years, who staffed the front desk at the high school.

Bruce Smith, a special education paraprofessional for 23 years.

Cecilia Duffy, a 25-year veteran of the science department.

Thomas said Duffy left her mark on the school by extending sustainability efforts that included a salmon release program, plantings to attract butterflies and a new program to recycle graduation robes.

At Bedford Middle School, Denise Emmerthal, assistant principal for special education, is calling it a career after 22 years.

Bedford Principal Adam Rosen called Emmerthal an integral part of the school, someone who worked tirelessly to help students overcome obstacles and challenges with sensitivity, empathy and compassion.

She was also someone willing to speak her mind and challenge the status quo, Rosen said.

“Everyone in this district puts students first,” Emmerthal said. “Everyone at Bedford is a nobleman.”

Bedford is also losing Anitha Bolar, a sixth-grade math teacher who taught in the district for 25 years.

Long Lots Elementary School is also losing two staff members:custodian Peter Barcello, after 17 years, and Susan Bambach, a reading interventionst after 19 years.

At Coleytown Elementary, custodian Agustin Feliciano is retiring after 21 years.

Coleytown Principal Janna Sirowich said when word got out that Feliciano was retiring, teachers shared stories of how he assisted them organizing rooms at the start of every academic year, and helped them retain favorite pieces of classroom furniture when they switched rooms.

At Kings Highway Elementary, Joyce Horne, the head secretary, is leaving after 26 years.

At Saugatuck Elementary, Jane Sandri, a nurse at the school for 18 years, is retiring. “She was my rock during the COVID years,” said Principal Elizabeth Messler.

Head custodian Adalberto Orozco Jr., in the district 24 years, is also retiring from Saugatuck.

Messler said he set the tone for people who worked there. “He never said no,” Messler said.

School board student rep moves on

The board also said goodbye to one of its student representatives, Anya Nair, who graduated Monday from Staples High School.

During commencement, board members in attendance said they felt Nair was one of their own as she crossed the stage to accept her diploma.

Board Chair Lee Goldstein said Nair and junior counterpart Calum Madigan both brought so much to the table in what she called the apprentice year for the non-voting student reps on the board.

Although the board agreed to add student voices to the board a year ago, the process for selecting the first two students took until last January. A new Staples junior will join the school board in the fall while Madigan remains for a second year.

Madigan called sitting on the board an invaluable experience that exceeded his expectations. “I didn’t think I would be part of something this big,” he said.

Board Secretary Neil Phillips said the two students were a testament to the fact that bringing student voices to the board was the right decision.

“You paved the way,” Phillips said.

“You both made a little history,” added board member Jill Dillon.

Freelance writer Linda Conner Lambeck, a reporter for more than four decades at the Connecticut Post and other Hearst publications, is a member of the Education Writers Association.